BONES' GAME OF THE YEAR BLOG (DAY TWO)

2012 was a landmark year if those doomsday movies are to be believed. The year marked some great games that change the way we look at the medium, but also had yet another deluge of weak titles that we expected to be better. Much like 2011, the big AAA titles were a bit of a wash in one way or another. But it was smaller games that really brought something new to the table, and we are here to celebrate them.

I bought this game purely from the quick look that Vinny and Jeff did a couple of months ago, and it was well worth the purchase. charming characters, gorgeous art design, and clever writing. The game is your standard point-and-click adventure game that parodies practically every fantasy game that came before it. Shop keepers are addicted to playing an online fantasy RPG that has no dragons, Orcs or magic but include Post Offices, and tax returns. The game isn't without problems, I encountered a game ending bug that wouldn't let me progress. Making me replay a full hour's worth up till that point. And it is an adventure game, meaning you need to click on EVERYTHING! But it's still a charming game well worth your time, if you like adventure games. You can buy it on Steam.

TAKE US BACK by ALELA DIANE (THE WALKING DEAD)

The soundtrack to The Walking Dead can barely be called a soundtrack as they tended to me stock repetitive sounds that merely only added to the atmospehre or distracted. Until the end credits of the final episode in which a licensed song is used, and it couldn't be a more befitting song. Take Us Back by Alela Diane is about the desire to return to the way things were and how beautiful life was then.

Runner-Ups: I Was Born For This (Journey), Honor For All (Dishonored), Leaving Earth (Mass Effect 3)

PERSONA 3 FES

With Persona 4 Golden coming to Vita I was really in the mood for anything Persona. With the Endurance Run, I already knew how Persona 4 ended. Which means that Persona 3 would be the logical choice. Unbeknownst to me, there was an Atlus sale on PSN, everyone of their games was 50% off. So I bought Persona 3 off PSN for only $5. I'll come right out and say it, Persona 4 is a better game, it made a lot of the mechanics in 3 much more streamlined and more convient. Persona 3's story is much slower paced (If you can believe that), You can't control your party members, you can't start your social links with your party members till halfway through the game. However, Persona 3 is still a very good game. I'm more than 60 hours in, and I can't wait to finish it. If you wanted to play Persona 4, but already know how it ends from the Endurance Run, then Persona 3 Fes will definitely satisfy that desire. You can also have a social link with Tanaka!

Runner-Ups: Grand Theft Auto IV, Fallout: New Vegas

DISHONORED

This is perhaps the most subjective category in a post about subjective categories. And by no means is it the only one, but I felt that this category needed to be added since 2012 will be known as the year of controversial endings. It would be nice to point out the games that did well. Each game listed here and the runner ups did their endings differently. Dishonored however, had 3 different endings, but depending on how you played throughout the game (High Chaos, Low Chaos) the entire end level will be completely different. Low Chaos means that the end level is bright and sunny, though not exactly cheery. High chaos means the level will be dark, stormy and well...chaotic. Me and a friend both played the game differently, and we both had a different experience. Best of all, the multiple endings are hidden from you. It's not "PRESS BUTTON TO RECEIVE ENDING" but your ending is depended on how you played through the game, and how you actually beat it. What a concept, eh?

Runner-Ups: Journey, The Walking Dead, Spec-Ops: The Line

ELECTRONIC ARTS

OH EA, you were starting to create good will with gamers this generation. You were the most hated during the PS2 era, but it wasn't long till Activision took that title. But I guess you missed it and continue to go out of your way to nickle and dime your customers and treat them like crap while doing it. Whether it's cutting out content for pre-orders, online passes for single player games, rushing unfinished games out the door, and creating a terrible free-to-play system for your MMO. You're going down a bad road and your dragging Bioware with you.

BONES' GAME OF THE YEAR BLOG (DAY TWO)

2012 was a landmark year if those doomsday movies are to be believed. The year marked some great games that change the way we look at the medium, but also had yet another deluge of weak titles that we expected to be better. Much like 2011, the big AAA titles were a bit of a wash in one way or another. But it was smaller games that really brought something new to the table, and we are here to celebrate them.

I bought this game purely from the quick look that Vinny and Jeff did a couple of months ago, and it was well worth the purchase. charming characters, gorgeous art design, and clever writing. The game is your standard point-and-click adventure game that parodies practically every fantasy game that came before it. Shop keepers are addicted to playing an online fantasy RPG that has no dragons, Orcs or magic but include Post Offices, and tax returns. The game isn't without problems, I encountered a game ending bug that wouldn't let me progress. Making me replay a full hour's worth up till that point. And it is an adventure game, meaning you need to click on EVERYTHING! But it's still a charming game well worth your time, if you like adventure games. You can buy it on Steam.

TAKE US BACK by ALELA DIANE (THE WALKING DEAD)

The soundtrack to The Walking Dead can barely be called a soundtrack as they tended to me stock repetitive sounds that merely only added to the atmospehre or distracted. Until the end credits of the final episode in which a licensed song is used, and it couldn't be a more befitting song. Take Us Back by Alela Diane is about the desire to return to the way things were and how beautiful life was then.

Runner-Ups: I Was Born For This (Journey), Honor For All (Dishonored), Leaving Earth (Mass Effect 3)

PERSONA 3 FES

With Persona 4 Golden coming to Vita I was really in the mood for anything Persona. With the Endurance Run, I already knew how Persona 4 ended. Which means that Persona 3 would be the logical choice. Unbeknownst to me, there was an Atlus sale on PSN, everyone of their games was 50% off. So I bought Persona 3 off PSN for only $5. I'll come right out and say it, Persona 4 is a better game, it made a lot of the mechanics in 3 much more streamlined and more convient. Persona 3's story is much slower paced (If you can believe that), You can't control your party members, you can't start your social links with your party members till halfway through the game. However, Persona 3 is still a very good game. I'm more than 60 hours in, and I can't wait to finish it. If you wanted to play Persona 4, but already know how it ends from the Endurance Run, then Persona 3 Fes will definitely satisfy that desire. You can also have a social link with Tanaka!

Runner-Ups: Grand Theft Auto IV, Fallout: New Vegas

DISHONORED

This is perhaps the most subjective category in a post about subjective categories. And by no means is it the only one, but I felt that this category needed to be added since 2012 will be known as the year of controversial endings. It would be nice to point out the games that did well. Each game listed here and the runner ups did their endings differently. Dishonored however, had 3 different endings, but depending on how you played throughout the game (High Chaos, Low Chaos) the entire end level will be completely different. Low Chaos means that the end level is bright and sunny, though not exactly cheery. High chaos means the level will be dark, stormy and well...chaotic. Me and a friend both played the game differently, and we both had a different experience. Best of all, the multiple endings are hidden from you. It's not "PRESS BUTTON TO RECEIVE ENDING" but your ending is depended on how you played through the game, and how you actually beat it. What a concept, eh?

Runner-Ups: Journey, The Walking Dead, Spec-Ops: The Line

ELECTRONIC ARTS

OH EA, you were starting to create good will with gamers this generation. You were the most hated during the PS2 era, but it wasn't long till Activision took that title. But I guess you missed it and continue to go out of your way to nickle and dime your customers and treat them like crap while doing it. Whether it's cutting out content for pre-orders, online passes for single player games, rushing unfinished games out the door, and creating a terrible free-to-play system for your MMO. You're going down a bad road and your dragging Bioware with you.